CHAPTER 6- The Choice

Marcus and Clara step back into the room. Caleb follows behind them.

"Get out of her room," Caleb says.

Clara ignores him. She looks at me. Eyes cold. "Ms. Hart. Let's talk like adults. No dramatics. Just business."

"There's nothing to talk about , Mrs. Vaughn. ."

"Oh, I think there is. Three months pregnant with no job, no home, living in a forty-dollar motel. You have twelve thousand dollars. How long does that last?"

I don't answer.

Marcus steps forward. Calm. Calculated. "We're prepared to offer two million dollars. Cash. We'll transfer to any account you want. All you do is sign a document stating Caleb Vaughn is not the biological father of your child. Deny paternity publicly one time. Disappear. Never contact our family again. You get to raise your child with more money than you'd make in ten lifetimes."

"She's not signing anything," Caleb says.

"Let her speak for herself," Clara snaps. Then, to me, the voice was softer. "Think about what I'm offering. Two million dollars. Buy a house. Best schools. Never worry about money. Never look over your shoulder wondering when we'll take him."

"You can't take him."

She laughs. Cold. "Can't I? You fled the state to avoid a custody hearing. Living in a motel. No job. No support system. Single mother with no resources going up against unlimited money and the best lawyers. Whom do you think a judge will give that baby to?"

Hands shake. "He's my son."

"And he deserves better than this." Clara gestures around. "Better than a mother who can barely take care of herself. Better than running and hiding. Better than you."

Her words hit like a slap.

Marcus pulls out a folder. Set it on the bed. "Here's the agreement. Simple. You sign. We transfer the money. You leave. Everyone moves on."

I stare at the folder. Two million dollars. I could give Evan everything. Safety. Stability. A real life. All I have to do is lie.

"You're not good enough for him," Clara says quietly. "You never were. I knew it the moment I met you. Boutique owner playing at being in our world. You don't belong here. You never did. Take the money and give your child a real life. Not this."

I reach for the folder. Caleb's face goes white. "Lena, don't."

I open it. Read the first page.

“I, Lena Hart, acknowledge that Caleb Vaughn is not the biological father of my unborn child.” I pick up the pen.

"Lena, please don't do this," Caleb says. Voice breaking. "Please. I know I don't deserve you. I know I destroyed everything. But please give me a chance to be Evan's father. Give me a chance to prove I'm better than who I was at that gala."

I give him a deep look. Eyes red. Face gaunt. Suit wrinkled. He looks like he's been searching for me every single day. Then I look at Clara. Perfectly composed. Perfectly cold. This is what she does. This is who she is.

If I sign this paper, I'm letting her win. Put the pen down.

"No."

Clara's face hardens. "Excuse me?"

"I said no. I'm not signing. Evan is Caleb's son. I'm not going to lie about that. Not for two million. Not for anything."

"You're making a mistake—"

"Maybe. But it's my mistake to make."

Marcus steps forward. Voice sharp. "Then we'll see you in court. We'll prove you're unfit. We'll prove you fled the state. We'll take that child the second he's born. And you won't have two million dollars to fight us. You'll have nothing."

"Then I'll have nothing. But I'll have the truth."

Clara's hand comes up fast. Slaps me across the face. The crack echoes. I stumble back. Hand to cheek, stinging. Caleb moves between us and grabs his mother's wrist.

"Don't you ever touch her again."

Voice like ice.

"Caleb, let go—"

"Get out. Both of you. Right now."

Marcus steps forward. "You're making a mistake, son."

"I'm making a choice. There's a difference."

Clara pulls free. Face twisted. "If you choose her over us, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. We'll cut you off. No trust fund. No position at the company. No family. Nothing."

"Then I'll have nothing. But I'll have my son. And I'll have her if she'll give me another chance."

"Don't be stupid—"

"I'm done being stupid. I was stupid at the gala. Stupid to believe Sienna over Lena. Stupid to let you manipulate me my entire life. But I'm done now. I choose my son. I chose Lena. If that means losing you, then I lose you."

Silence.

Clara stares at him. Tears in her eyes now. Real ones.

"You'll come back. When the money runs out. When you realize what you threw away. You'll come back begging."

"I won't."

She turns to Marcus. "Let's go. Our son has made his choice. He can live with the consequences."

They walk to the door. Clara stops. She looks back at me. "This is your fault. You destroyed my family."

"You destroyed your own family," Caleb says. "The day you paid Sienna to lie."

They leave. The door slams. Caleb and I are alone. He's shaking. I'm shaking.

"I'm sorry," he says. "I'm so sorry she hit you. I'm sorry for all of it."

"You chose me."

"I should have chosen you three months ago. At the gala. I should have asked you to explain instead of believing Sienna. I should have trusted you."

"But you didn't."

"No. I didn't. And I'll spend the rest of my life regretting that. But I'm choosing you now. I'm choosing Evan. If you'll let me."

I step closer. He steps closer. Inches apart. His hand comes up. Touches my cheek where Clara slapped me. Gentle.

"I love you," he whispers. "I never stopped loving you." I lean in, he leans in.

Almost.

My phone rings. We both jump back. It's Jared calling

I answer. "Hello?"

"Lena, turn on the news. Right now."

"What? Why?"

"Just turn it on."

Caleb pulls out his phone. Searches the news. His face goes white. He tilts the phone towards me.

Headline:

“BILLIONAIRE CALEB VAUGHN DISOWNS PARENTS OVER SECRET LOVE CHILD”.

Article already published. Photos of Marcus and Clara leaving the motel. Photos of Caleb in the parking lot. Photos of me in Dote Norway. Someone was watching. Someone took photos. Someone leaked everything.

"How?" Caleb whispers.

Read the article. Anonymous source. Detailed account of confrontation. Direct quotes. Someone heard everything we said. Someone was listening.

"Who leaked this?" I ask.

Caleb stares at his phone. "I don't know. But whoever it is has made this very public. There's no going back now."

We look at each other. The whole world knows. Caleb chose me over his parents. Over his money. Over everything. And someone made sure everyone would know.

But who?